Exterminator contracts?

[limewave]

Over the summer our cats had fleas. It was awful. We took them to the vet and we hired an exterminator to spray the house. My poor children were COVERED in bites.

When the exterminator came to the house, he said it was 5 time treatment plan, $200 a time and then asked me to sign a paper. I refused to sign. I explained to him that I understood that's what they recommend but we just couldn't afford that. I'd be glad to pay him for the service that day but we would not schedule any more appointments unless we needed to.

2 months later the exterminator shows up at our house. He didn't knock or let me know he was there, he just started treating our house and I happened to be home and caught him doing it. I asked him to leave right away.

2 months after that, same thing happened.

Sunday we got a voicemail message at 10 PM saying they were coming this week. We called them to cancel and they said we owed them $400 because we agreed to their "Gold Star Treatment" plan. And since we didn't want them to our house, we had to pay 60% of the contract fee.

??????

We told them we didn't sign anything and that's not what we agreed to. They said that they have a recorded phone conversation of us agreeing to this service. Therefore they are going to turn this into a claims agency for the full price :(

I am so upset by this! These are the sleaziest people I have ever worked with. I was very clear, direct, and upfront with them when they came to the house. This makes me so mad. We are going to talk to our lawyer about this, not that we can afford that either . . .

[Roadtrip]

WOW. Sleaze is about the right word for it.

I'd kindly ask them to produce said voice recording of you authorizing any work above and beyond the initial treatment of your property. I'd tell them that if your differences cannot be resolved and they wish to pursue collections, that you'd be more then willing to contact the Attorney General in your state and see about filing a complaint.

Not that it helps a whole lot, but I've filed complaints with the BBB before too, but it didn't get me too far. BBB is more loyal to the businesses paying for accreditation then protecting the consumer. Angie's List is a good resource to use when trying to find a good contractor. This only helps in the future of course.

Hoping you get this resolved!!
Shannon

[OakLeaf]

We've had issues with an extremely aggressive exterminator as well. Not to your extent, though. :(

Ours was a regional company that was okay when we signed with them, but then they were bought out by a company that started out as a PR firm, and after that it was nonstop phone calls, treatments we didn't want, ....

Now we better hurry up and find someone new before the mortgage company gets on us about the termite certification.

[JennK13]

That is the craziest thing I've ever heard! My husband is an exterminator - he previously worked for two big, corporate companies, but now works for a small mom-n-pop place. I can't comment on how corporate called or treated customers when the technician wasn't there, but he left because of the way the companies were run.

He, and the company he now works for, would never force a customer into a contract - and by the way, 5 treatments at $200 a pop sounds ridiculous.

I agree with Roadtrip - ask to hear the recording. Tell them you're willing to keep your side of any contract, but that you don't recall authorizing any future work as you specifically didn't sign the contract. Check with your state, too, on the validity of recorded conversations - they aren't admissable in many circumstances.

[limewave]

Talked to our lawyer and feel much better. He says they have no grounds at all for what they are doing. He is going to write them a letter and that *should* be the end of it. Here's hoping.

[tulip]

What a bummer you have to deal with this Limewave! I hope you are flea-free from now on. Letters from lawyers can be wonderous things.

[OakLeaf]

And just like you, although our contract with the old exterminator expired two weeks ago, they showed up at our house this morning unannounced saying they were here to do the treatment. Luckily our gates are locked and of course we didn't let them inside. We'll see if we get a bill anyhow.

I wonder if it's the same company...

[limewave]

Update: Our lawyer sent them a letter refuting their claim of contract as there is, obviously, no contract with them. Our lawyer also instructed them that any further contact should be made directly to our lawyer and not to us.

So, what do I get in the mail today? A bill from the exterminator! For $300 and it says its the balance of our contract.

Will this NEVER END?

[crazycanuck]

Me thinks someone @ X company needs a good thwack! Hmm..perhaps a Jimmy Hoffa moment wouldn't go amiss at a time like this :eek: :rolleyes: ;)

Seriously though..Limewave, I hope it's dealt with soon. Obviously lawyers mean nothing to X company & they just do what they want...

[Blueberry]

Definitely send that one to your lawyer. You might also ask your lawyer if it would be worth your time to file complaints with the BBB and the state AG's office. That just sucks:(

[Mr. Bloom]

Lime, is there in fact a recorded conversation of someone agreeing to this by phone? Exterminators are in the class of consumer companies that feels compelled to outsource the confirmation of contracts to protect themselves against their own commissioned sales staff. If there is a recording with specific terms and expectations set forth after their visit to your house, that may establish the elements of a contract. If this dispute continues, it's time to demand to hear the recording. If it exists, you want to be careful. If it doesn't exist, you have one heck of a ruckus you can raise....

I know there is no more violated feeling than having someone like this trying to rip you off. I encourage you to sit down and write out every detail you can recall and why you believe their claim is false. If it escalates, these facts will be important. In the meantime, it will help you feel better;)

Good luck...keep us posted